crayfish

noun

cray·​fish ˈkrā-ˌfish How to pronounce crayfish (audio)
1
: any of numerous freshwater decapod crustaceans (especially families Astacidea, Cambaridae, and Parastacidae) resembling the lobster but usually much smaller
2

Illustration of crayfish

Illustration of crayfish
  • crayfish 1

Examples of crayfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Millipedes are not insects, but rather more closely related to animals like lobster, shrimp and crayfish, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 11 June 2025 Modern crayfish such as the Z-Man TRD CrawZ designed to be presented on a ned rig are engineered to float. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2025 How about Midwestern crayfish, white miso and fresh dill, with pickled celery root on the side? Pete Wells, New York Times, 2 June 2025 Too small for there ever to be an airport, this 40-square-mile outcrop of vertiginous cliffs surrounded by churning ocean is only reachable via a berth on one of the South African fishing vessels that come to collect the crayfish. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for crayfish

Word History

Etymology

by folk etymology from Middle English crevis, from Anglo-French creveis, escreveice, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German krebiz crab — more at crab

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crayfish was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Crayfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crayfish. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

crayfish

noun
cray·​fish ˈkrā-ˌfish How to pronounce crayfish (audio)
1
: any of numerous freshwater crustaceans that are related to but usually much smaller than the lobster
2

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